‘Security is precondition for prosperity’ – U.S. official says on Guyana–Venezuela border controversy  

The ongoing territorial controversy between Guyana and Venezuela, now before the International Court of Justice (ICJ), remains a key backdrop to regional security discussions, with a senior U.S. official stressing that stability is essential for economic growth and investment.

Speaking during a press roundtable at the U.S. Embassy in Georgetown on Wednesday, U.S. Under Secretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy and the Environment Jacob Helberg said Washington is closely monitoring developments at the ICJ while emphasizing that security is fundamental to prosperity in the hemisphere.

“We’re monitoring those events at the ICJ very closely,” Helberg said when asked about the case. “We understand and agree that security is a precondition for prosperity.”

The comments come as Guyana continues to press its legal case at the ICJ to uphold the validity of the 1899 Arbitral Award, which established the current land boundary between Guyana and Venezuela. Venezuela, however, maintains its claim to the Essequibo region, a position Guyana rejects.

The case, formally known as Guyana v. Venezuela, was initiated after decades of diplomatic deadlock over the validity of the boundary settlement. The ICJ has already ruled that it has jurisdiction to hear the case and is now progressing through the merits phase, where both sides present historical and legal arguments.

Guyana argues that the 1899 award is final, binding, and valid under international law, while Venezuela contends that the agreement was the result of fraud and should be declared null and void.

The legal process has become one of the most closely watched territorial disputes in the hemisphere, given its implications for regional stability and offshore resource development.

The case is unfolding at a time when Guyana’s economic and geopolitical profile has sharply increased due to its offshore oil production, led by ExxonMobil, and growing foreign investment interest.

That economic transformation has added new weight to the longstanding border dispute, particularly as both countries assert competing claims over the resource-rich Essequibo region and adjacent maritime areas.

Guyana’s government has consistently maintained that it remains committed to a peaceful, legal resolution through the ICJ process, while continuing to strengthen diplomatic engagement with regional and international partners.

Helberg’s remarks reflect broader U.S. messaging that political and territorial stability in the region is essential for sustaining economic growth and attracting long-term investment.

While he did not comment on the legal merits of the case, he underscored the importance of maintaining peace and avoiding escalation.

The United States has repeatedly expressed support for Guyana’s sovereignty and the ICJ process as the appropriate forum for resolving the dispute.

The border controversy remains one of South America’s most sensitive geopolitical issues, with periodic diplomatic tensions between Georgetown and Caracas.

In recent years, concerns have intensified alongside Guyana’s emergence as a major oil-producing state, increasing the strategic value of both its offshore waters and inland territory.

Against this backdrop, the ICJ ruling—when it eventually comes—will carry significant implications not only for Guyana and Venezuela, but for regional stability, investment confidence, and international legal precedent.

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